[allAfrica.com] [allAfrica.com_News_in_French] Workers Obey NLC, Stay Off Work-strike Continues, Says Oshiomhole Vanguard (Lagos) NEWS October 12, 2004 Posted to the web October 12, 2004 By Funi Komolafe, Victor Ahiuma-Young, Rotimi Ajayi, Charles Ozemena, Tony Edike, Dayo Johnson, George Onah, Taye Obateru, Emmanuel Edukugbo, Kingsley Omonobi, Chris Ochayi, Anayo Okoli, Umar Yusuf, Sina Babasola, Margaret Odeyemi, Osaro O The four-day nationwide strike organised by the labour-civil society coalition took off yesterday, paralysing activities in most state capitals and cities. Public and private sector workers stayed away from work while banks and schools were closed. In Kaduna, a clash occured between policemen and some protesters while 30 students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan were wounded in a clash between them and the police. The police also arrested 14 persons in Kaduna while nine labour leaders were arrested in Awka. In Abuja, as in many other states, armed policemen paraded the streets. An attempt by officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by Mr. Adams Oshiomhole to stage a protest rally was aborted by the police. However, banks and schools were closed. Workers reported for duties at the federal secretariat. Mr. Oshiomhole announced that the strike continues today. From Lagos to Uyo, Ibadan, Calabar, Enugu, Kano, Yenegoa, Ado-Ekiti, Akure, Enugu, Onitsha, Abeokuta, Owerri, Benin, Jos to Port Harcourt, federal and state civil servants stayed away from work. The Oyo State Police Command spokesman, Mr. Femi Adedeji, confirmed the clash with the students, saying: "Our men went out to deal with any breakdown of law and order. Some students were trying to come out of the campus but they were pushed back by our men." Students on their part said the police threw tear-gas into Orisun hall of residence which caused a stampede. In the process, many students were injured. In Lagos, the strike was without the usual bonfire. A lot of people stayed at home. Private cars moved around the city unhindered but a lot of commuter buses were off the roads until late afternoon. Commercial activities on Lagos Island, Oshodi, Idumota were completely paralysed. Trading activities were paralysed as markets were not open. Major streets were deserted. Filling stations were also closed but some youths hawked petrol in jerry-cans to desperate motorists. Civil servants also stayed away from the state secretariat. There was, however, a clash between police and protesters but the situation was soon brought under control. Students of the Lagos State University also barricaded the Lagos- Badagry road to enforce the stay-at-home order. NLC's head of information, Comrade Owei Lakemfa, who was one of the co- ordinators of the strike in Lagos said of the strike: "The Nigerian people have shown from today's (yesterday) successful action that sovereignty belongs to them and not to the government." He commended Lagosians for complying and urged them to remain steadfast and continue the strike today. In nearly all state capitals, union leaders went underground to avoid arrests by the police. However, in Akure, senior civil servants reported for duties while commercial drivers and market women went about their normal business. In Benin, youths staged protests and also made bonfire. The youths displayed placards some of which read: " No to fuel increase, Obasanjo must go, we must die if Obasanjo remains." The protesters went through Ugbowo, Uselu and Ekenwa roads. In Kano, although workers stayed away from their offices, markets were open while commercial drivers and motorcycle riders operated. A trader told Vanguard that although they supported the strike, they could not afford to stay away from business because "things are very hard ." In Abeokuta, President Obasanjo's home town, business activities were also paralysed as workers stayed away from work. The state branch of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) asked the Federal Government to be sensitive to the plight of the people and meet with stakeholders especially the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). Armed policemen took over offices in Uyo as many workers stayed away. Meanwhile, fuel was sold at N60 per litre. The Enugu State government had to call off the launching of the State Economic Empowerment Development Strategy though people had turned up for the programme. The state Commissioner for Information, Chief Ayogu Eze, said it was postponed because the government did not want to be identified as "anti- labour." However, members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) defied the strike order. Workers also stayed away from their office in Yenagoa but traders and transporters went about their normal businesses though there was a lull in commercial activities as people stay at home. In Port Harcourt, government offices, banks and filling stations were closed. Traffic was light as many people stayed at home but some markets and shops opened for business. In Ado-Ekiti, there was partial compliance with the strike as some shops and markets were open but NLC officials went round to enforce the strike as a result of which public schools and government offices were closed. The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Otitoju, said the state government was not against organised labour exercising their rights but advised union leaders to ensure that the strike was peaceful. Calabar recorded an unprecedented success as offices and markets were closed. The University of Calabar and banks were also closed. There was, however, no protest. In Kaduna, civil servants also stayed away from work. Schools were closed but traders sold their wares. Some of the traders said they fully supported the strike but that people needed to stockpile food for the Ramadan fast scheduled to begin Thursday. In Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police Chris Olakpe, said: "Generally, security reports from all over the country are that the police is on top of the situation.". He said the police had lived up to its promise to protect law-abiding citizens, explaining that the police took over the Abuja federal secretariat because "the secretariat is a key point and the installations and property there run into billions of Naira."   =============================================================================   Copyright © 2004 Vanguard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). =============================================================================